1987 Merc 90 Out of Storage

[jayhawkokie]

I just purchased a 1987 Aries Bass boat with 90 HP Mercury from my Uncle and Cousin. They were the second owners and the boat has always been garaged and meticously maintained.

The boat has not been in the water in over two years, the engine was fogged before storage and they changed the water pump impeller and changed lower unit oil. When I start getting the boat ready for the lake next spring what are some of the things I should do to make sure I have a problem free summer?

The first thing I did was buy a service manual from this site. I plan to rebuild the carbs first thing because my Cousin said they hadn't been off the engine since they bought the boat. Should I also put a kit in the fuel pump? What about the thermostat, should I replace it? The engine has a new power pack and they had the mechanic check the timing and I think they also replaced a rectifier the last year they used the boat.

I'm a pretty good mechanic and enjoying doing most things myself but this is my second boat, the other one only lasted 4 months before the engine crapped out, so I have a lot to learn.

Thanks for any input.

Jayhawkokie
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees Oklahoma

 

[DJ]

Re: 1987 Merc 90 Out of Storage

You're on the right track. I think you have it covered. All of those things should be done. Better to start fresh than unknowing.

Fuel is your biggest issue. Get rid of whatever is left. Start with fresh fuel next spring.

 

[jayhawkokie]

Re: 1987 Merc 90 Out of Storage

Getting rid of the old fuel was the first thing I was going to do. We can now get 100% gasoline here so that is the fuel I plan on running in the boat, no more gasohol for me.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1987 Merc 90 Out of Storage

I would pull all the plugs and spray a little sea foam in each cylinder and just turn the engine over a few times. The sea foam will clean up the fogging oil if it settled into the rings and coat the walls a bit.